Firebrand feminist author Clementine Ford is slammed on social media after claiming 'marriage is built on the oppression of women'
Controversial feminist figure Clementine Ford has described marriage as being 'built on the oppression of women' and compared wives to slaves in a new book.
Appearing on The Project to outline an alternative view on marriage in her latest book I Don't, the 42-year-old said, 'My biggest issue with marriage is that I think that it's a fundamentally flawed institution that is built on the oppression of women.'
She also claimed marriage is 'great for men', while women were left with a large burden inside of the relationship.
'One of the chief complaints a lot of women have about their husbands is that they don't really feel like their husbands see them, all they are is kind of like a glorified all-in-one appliance for them,' she said.
But when the segment was posted to The Project's account on X (formerly Twitter), the feminist's comments led to some angry responses.
Feminist author Clementine Ford (pictured) has described marriage as 'built on the oppression of women' in an interview on Ten's The Project
'Marriage advice...from a man-hater feminist? Are you just taking the piss out of viewers?' wrote one reply.
'Should change their shows name to "The Asylum,"' quipped another.
'Well it looks like all that fighting and pain us gays went through to achieve marriage equality was all for nothing? So we should have just been happy with "de facto"' wrote one gay X user.
Host Waleed Aly (pictured) pointed out to Ms Ford that the dynamics of de facto relationships are often similar to marriages, posing the question to her that marriage may not be the issue after all
'Marriage is pro-woman. It guarantees support and dignity to balance the sacrifices women make when they have children. It promotes a stable environment for children. It creates responsibility and meaning for men. The alternative is empty hedonism. Your choice,' wrote another.
'I don't really want Clementine Ford to get married either,' one more commenter offered.
'Anyone taking life advice from Clementine Ford is unlikely to end up a very happy person,' wrote another.
However, Ford was not without her defenders on social media, with some sharing her revolutionary message.
'I completely agree with Clementine. It is a sham for wedding-related industry that doubles or triples prices above their usual costs. It is a sham for the costs involved in dissolving a marriage. Couples are protected by law as long as you make sure you have a will etc,' wrote one supporter.
'Hard to argue with her logic. The piece of paper is irrelevant and the marriage industry is a sham! Instead is spending $100,000 on a wedding impressing friends and then whinging that housing prices are to expensive why not, buy a house instead?'
It's not the first time Ford has been critiqued online for her anti-marriage position.
In September, the feminist writer shared a clip of her responding to a listener's question on her podcast, Dear Clementine.
The listener wanted to know how to show their commitment to a long-term partner without getting married.
The podcaster replied, 'I think it's locking people into something that makes it much more difficult to leave... The question about how to show your commitment without having that legal binding, again, who are you showing your commitment to?''
She went on to question to whom the commitment in the relationship is aimed.
Clementine Ford received some robust comments after an anti-marriage rant on her podcast
The feminist writer shared a clip of her responding to a listener question on her podcast, Dear Clementine. The listener wanted to know how to show their commitment to a long-term partner without getting married
'Are you showing it to your partner? Or are you showing it to everyone who wants to have an opinion about your relationship with your partner?' she asked.
While many fans agreed with Clementine's views, some dissenters sounded off in the comments.
'It doesn’t make it harder to leave. It actually makes it easier. Marital laws give you rights. Rights to martial property, retirement benefits, spousal support. Partnership does not,' said one follower.
She went on to question to whom the commitment in the relationship is aimed: 'Are you showing it to your partner? Or are you showing it to everyone who wants to have an opinion about your relationship with your partner?'
While many fans agreed with Clementine's views, some dissenters sounded off in the comments. 'If a man is willing to marry you, he's not just messing around until he finds someone better,' one commenter wrote
'If a man is willing to marry you, he's not just messing around until he finds someone better,' another commenter wrote.
Another wrote: 'Apologies for mansplaining Clem, but the Stoic philosophers talk about how we don't need to have an opinion (or to express it).'
Others argued that having a legal basis of partnership meant a more stable environment for offspring.
'I want a man to show that he is committed to me in front of my family and friends and I want my children to be born in a secure family,' said one fan.
'She is saying that marriage locks you in and that’s bad and that people should leave as soon as it’s not good for them, but children prefer their parents to stay together. If you are married, it shows that you both agree you want to be together,' said another.
It comes after the media personality recently announced the upcoming release of her new book, I Don't: The Case Against Marriage. 'It's a new story about an old lie,' she wrote to Instagram next to photo of the book's front cover
